Genre: Historical Fiction

Publisher: Simon and Schuster Canada

Format: Paperback

Pages: 416

Rating: 5/5 stars

Summary (Goodreads): 

A broken family, a house of secrets—an entrancing tale of love and courage set during the Second World War.

After Rebecca’s mother dies, she must sort through her empty flat and come to terms with her loss. As she goes through her mother’s mail, she finds a handwritten envelope. In it is a letter that will change her life forever.

Olivia, her mother’s elderly cousin, needs help to save her beloved home. Rebecca immediately goes to visit Olivia in Cornwall only to find a house full of secrets—treasures in the attic and a mysterious tunnel leading from the cellar to the sea, and Olivia, nowhere to be found.

As it turns out, the old woman is stuck in hospital with no hope of being discharged until her house is made habitable again. Rebecca sets to work restoring the home to its former glory, but as she peels back the layers of paint and grime, she uncovers even more buried secrets—secrets from a time when the Second World War was raging, when Olivia was a young woman, and when both romance and danger lurked around every corner…

A sweeping and utterly spellbinding tale of a young woman’s courage in the face of war and the lengths to which she’ll go to protect those she loves against the most unexpected of enemies.

My Review:

Thank you, Simon and Schuster Canada for the copy of this book.
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This book started a bit slow, but it really picked up about a quarter into it, and became hooked! The book follows two main characters, Rebecca and Olivia. Rebecca seemed to be a sad character at first, and a little flat and uninteresting, but I loved the character growth that she experienced! Don’t give up on her if you think she is a bit flat. She becomes quite lively. Olivia was a fun and energetic character, and we get to read about her experience of the Second World War while living in Cornwall. She was forced to grow up quickly due to her circumstances and I loved her spunk.
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I also enjoyed the setting of Cornwall and enjoyed learning about the impact on the area during and after the War. It was also interesting to read about the connection between Cornwall and England and also North Africa. Not a connection you would think to make in a World War Two novel. I also loved the metaphor of the title, The Sea Gate.
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As you can see, there are many things to love about this book! Highly recommended for lovers of historical fiction, and for those who are looking for a different kind of war story.